Spinning Yarns Fiber of friendship for San Angelo cooperative comes straight off the hoof - Nueces Electric Cooperative
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2105_local covers standard.qxp 4/14/21 2:03 PM Page 16
FOLK MUSIC THE HERO OF READER PHOTOS:
in the Field CinCo de mAyo hiStoriC texAS
For nUeCeS eC memBerS m Ay 2 0 2 1
Spinning
Yarns
Fiber of friendship
for San Angelo cooperative
comes straight off the hoof
contents
May 2021
04 currents
The latest buzz
06 tcp talk
Readers respond
18 co-op news
Information
plus energy
and safety
tips from your
cooperative
29 Footnotes in
texas history
The Hero of
Cinco de Mayo
By W.F. Strong
30 tcp Kitchen
Potluck Dishes
By Megan Myers
34 hit the road
Used Cars
By Chet Garner
08
37
Serendipity 12 Listening
Focus on texas
Photo Contest:
Spinners to Texas
Historic Texas
Members of a San Angelo
cooperative spin wool from
How folklorists saved
the soundtrack of the
38 observations
Universal Appeal
their own flock. Lone Star State. By E. Dan Klepper
By Brenda Kissko By Gene Fowler
Photos by Kristin Tyler
On tHe COver
Colorful skeins of yarn created
by the Serendipity Spinners.
AbOve
Peggy tharp, ruth Jordan and
Sandy Pederson of the spinning club.
Photos by Kristin Tyler
t e x A S C O OPPOwer.COM M Ay 2 0 2 1 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 3
Currents
A Preponderance
of Orthographers
yo u n g t e x A n S
have proven masterful at spelling words that seemingly
come from a jostled Scrabble board. They have pretty much owned the
Scripps National Spelling Bee in recent years.
Three of the eight co-champions in 2019 came from Texas. Sohum
FiniSh thiS
Sentence
Sukhatankar of Dallas dazzled with his winning word, pendeloque.
Abhijay Kodali of Flower Mound spelled palama. And Rohan Raja of Dallas
aced odylic.
They followed in the footsteps of 2018 champion Karthik Nemmani THIS MeMoRIAL
of McKinney, who hoisted the trophy after spelling koinonia.
Nihar Janga of Austin shared the title in 2016 after spelling Gesellschaft.
DAy, I HonoR ...
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 bee. The tell us how you would finish
2021 finals are scheduled for July 8. that sentence. email your short
responses to letters@texas
CoopPower.com or comment on
May 5 our Facebook post. Include your
nAtionAl co-op and town. below are some
of the responses to our March
AStronAut prompt: the song that got me
AStrOn Aut: deLPI xeL | SHu t t erStO CK .CO M. LIbr Ary: CO u rte Sy Lb J Pre SId en tIAL LI br Ary. CHeeSe: Ov ydybOre tS | dre AMStIMe.COM. dAnCe HALL : dAve SHAFer
dAy through a year of pandemic is …
an etymology dictionary cites
If We Make It Through December
1880 as the earliest use of the by Merle Haggard.
word “astronaut.” That’s when InOCenCIA MArtInez
M A g I C vA L L e y e C
english writer percy Greg coined MerCedeS
it for a fictional spaceship.
Texas Sun by Khruangbin and
Leon bridges.
MeLAnIe burrIS
nueCeS eC
POrtLAnd
Still Not Dead by willie nelson.
Fd HerMAn
H A M I Lt O n C O u n t y e C
b I g vA L L e y
We Shall Overcome by Pete Seeger.
S A n J Ay S H A H
COServ
C A r r O L Lt O n
This Little Light of Mine.
P e g gy H OwA r d
vICtOrIA eC
vICtOrIA
Don’t Let Me Down by the beatles.
Jerry CHAndLer
PedernALeS eC
CA n yO n L A K e
to see more responses, read
Currents online.
4 T E X AS CO-OP POWER MAy 2021 t e x A S C O O P P Ow e r .C O M
“Motherhood
Contests and More
is the greatest on texAScooppower.com
thing and the $500 recipe conteSt
Cheese
hardest thing.” FocuS on texAS photoS
rust and decay
—ricki lake
recommended reAding
Double Exposure (July 2018) revisits
a couple’s pose at Cadillac ranch.
lbJ Archives at 50
the LbJ Presidential Library at
the university of texas at Austin
turns 50 on May 22. It was the first
presidential library to be located
on a college campus and the first
anywhere in texas.
the First Five
presidential libraries
Opened June 30, 1941
Franklin d. roosevelt
Hyde Park, new york
July 6, 1957
harry S. truman
Independence, Missouri
May 1, 1962
dwight d. eisenhower
Abilene, Kansas
August 10, 1962
herbert hoover
west branch, Iowa t win SiSte rS
dAnce hAll
May 22, 1971 ne Ar bl Anco
lyndon b. Johnson
Austin, texas
Care To Dance?
t e x A S dA n c e h A l l p r e S e r vAt i o n
donated $262,520 to assist
32 historic dance halls with expenses in 2020.
Dance halls across the state were shut down for most of 2020,
unable to hold dances, weddings, festivals and fundraisers be-
cause of the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 1,000 dance halls, built mostly by European immi-
grants, once dotted parts of Texas. Today, fewer than 400 remain.
Read Hail the Halls from February 2019 to learn more.
lb J pre Si d e n t i A l l i b r A ry
t e x A S C O OPPOwer.COM M Ay 2 0 2 1 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 5
TCP Talk
Flower power
“Your March cover started my
day with a happy smile. You all
knocked it out of the ballpark
with photos of Texas flowers
in breathtaking colors.”
au d n e T T e c o dy l a r G e n T
F ay e T T e e c
emory
rOb g r eeb On
Family roots A Flyer’s Fate bread and butter
Some of the more interesting pass-along Col. Carl Crane, my grand- As a youngster in Boerne in
plants [Putting Down Roots, February Salsa was great father, and William Ocker the 1950s, one of my treats
2021] were introduced by Lorenzo de during the snow- were pioneers in instrumen- was simple well-buttered
pocalypse [Tacos,
Zavala when he was a minister to France March 2021]. Spicy
tation flying [Flying Blind, bread, and the butter was
when Texas was a republic. Roses were food and soups for January 2021]. Had Crane from either Falfurrias or the
a gift from France and planted by Adina cold days and nights not pursued this solution, Comfort Creamery, depend-
de Zavala, his granddaughter, in their always seem to go I might not be here. ing on whether my parents
good together.
Lynchburg homestead, eventually The story goes that he was shopped in San Antonio or
shared and spread into surrounding d Av I d n O r t O n flying a congressman’s son at our local Boerne grocery
v I A FA C e b O O K
communities. These roses are still found in bad weather in Ohio when [A Name That Sticks, Febru-
in some of our older cemeteries. he became disoriented and ary 2021]. Back then the but-
almost crashed. Neon lights ter was better than the bread.
Mike Shoup
of a hotel that he saw at the
bluebonnet eC dell Hood
Independence last minute allowed Crane to
Pedernales eC
get his bearings and correct wimberley
his plane’s direction, saving
their lives.
Lisa Mittel
write to u S
Southwest texas eC
letters@texasCoopPower.com
San Antonio
editor, texas Co-op Power
1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor
Austin, tx 78701
please include your electric
CHIAr A ve rCe SI
co-op and town. Letters may
be edited for clarity and length.
texas Co-op Power
texAS electric cooperAtiveS boArd oF directorS texas co-op power volume 77, number 11 (uSPS 540-560). Texas Co-op Power is published
chair robert Loth III, Fredericksburg • vice chair gary raybon, el Campo monthly by texas electric Cooperatives (teC). Periodical postage paid at Austin, tx, and at additional
Secretary-treasurer Kelly Lankford, San Angelo • board members greg Henley, tahoka offices. teC is the statewide association representing 75 electric cooperatives. Texas Co-op Power’s
website is texasCoopPower.com. Call (512) 454-0311 or email editor@texasCoopPower.com.
billy Jones, Corsicana • david Mcginnis, van Alstyne • doug turk, Livingston
SubScriptionS Subscription price is $4.20 per year for individual members of subscribing coop-
preSident/ceo Mike williams, Austin eratives and is paid from equity accruing to the member. If you are not a member of a subscribing
communicAtionS & member ServiceS committee cooperative, you can purchase an annual subscription at the nonmember rate of $7.50. Individual
Marty Haught, burleson • bill Hetherington, bandera • ron Hughes, Sinton copies and back issues are available for $3 each.
boyd McCamish, Littlefield • John ed Shinpaugh, bonham • robert walker, gilmer poStmASter Send address changes to Texas Co-op Power (uSPS 540-560), 1122 Colorado St.,
buff whitten, eldorado • brandon young, Mcgregor 24th Floor, Austin, tx 78701. Please enclose label from this copy of Texas Co-op Power showing
old address and key numbers.
mAgAzine StAFF
AdvertiSing Advertisers interested in buying display ad space in Texas Co-op Power and/or in
vice president, communications & member Services Martin bevins our 30 sister publications in other states, contact elaine Sproull at (512) 486-6251. Advertisements
editor Charles J. Lohrmann • Associate editor tom widlowski in Texas Co-op Power are paid solicitations. the publisher neither endorses nor guarantees in any
production manager Karen nejtek • creative manager Andy doughty manner any product or company included in this publication. Product satisfaction and delivery re-
Advertising manager elaine Sproull • Senior communications Specialist Chris burrows sponsibility lie solely with the advertiser. © Copyright 2021 texas electric Cooperatives Inc. repro-
print production Specialist grace Fultz • communications Specialist travis Hill duction of this issue or any portion of it is expressly prohibited without written permission. willie
Food editor Megan Myers • communications Specialist Jessica ridge wiredhand © Copyright 2021 national rural electric Cooperative Association.
digital content producer Chris Salazar • Senior designer Jane Sharpe
proofreader Shannon Oelrich • digital media intern Sabrina Macias
6 T E X AS CO-OP POWER MAy 2021 t e x A S C O O P P Ow e r .C O M
We are excited to announce the release of the 2021 Texas Silver
Round – Revolu on Series. This is the second release of a four-year
series commemora ng the ba les of the Texas Revolu on. Each
Texas Silver Round is one troy ounce .9999 ne silver.
The
The obverse of the high-quality mint strike features Texas’ iconic lone
star in the foreground. The smooth engraving of the star is framed
by a textured topographical outline of the state of Texas. “TEXAS”
arches proudly over the top of the round’s obverse in large capital
letters, with “Precious Metals” presented inversely along the
o ppo si te sid e. The ro und’s
mintage year is engraved in
SERIES the bottom left of the round,
just southwest of what
would be the Rio Grande
bordering Texas and Mexico.
The reverse of the 2021 release
displays a scene from the famous
Ba le of the Alamo. It depicts
two Texian soldiers including the
American icon, Davy Crocke ,
a emp ng to fend o Mexican
soldiers a emp ng to breach the
walls of the Alamo.
B AT T L E O F G O N Z A L E S B AT T L E O F T H E A L A M O
rst in the series second in the series
The stunning 2020 Texas Silver Round depicts a scene from the Ba le The events of this famous ba le took place on the days of February
of Gonzales, with three Texian revolu onaries defending the famous 23rd - March 6th, 1836. At the end of a 13-day siege, President General
Gonzales cannon, while brandishing the Come And Take It Flag. Antonio López de Santa Anna and his Mexican troops reclaimed the
Alamo Mission, killing the Texian and immigrant occupiers.
The Texas Silver Round can be purchased in a monster box produced
exclusively for the Texas Mint. Packaged in 20 protec ve tubes of 25
rounds each, the monster box holds 500 1-ounce Texas Silver Rounds.
Built from durable cold-rolled steel and nished with a ma e black powder
coat, the monster box lid features an orange cutout of the state of Texas.
Each sealed monster box is secured with a unique serial number and a
holographic seal to ensure maximum product protec on.
The Texas Silver Round is also available to purchase in a similarly designed
and secured mini-monster box, which contains 10 protec ve tubes of 25
rounds each for a total of 250 silver rounds.
FREE SHIPPING G O L D / S I LV E R / P L AT I N U M NO ORDER MINIMUMS
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Serendipity
Spinners
MEMBERS OF A SAN ANGELO
COOPERATIVE SPIN WOOL
FROM THEIR OWN FLOCK
by b r e n dA K i S S Ko • p h oto S by K r i St i n t y l e r
yarn created by the
serendipity spinners gets
woven into a blanket.
Turning materials that nature provides into a handiwork can remind us of a simpler way of life and provide a reward beyond the finished product. Such has been the experience of the Serendipity Spinners, who for 19 years have been starting from the ground up and spinning wool into yarn, which they then craft into prized possessions. Although they come from varied backgrounds in and around San Angelo—doctors, businesswomen, retired teach- ers, certified public accountants—they share a common love for the spinning tradition. And they are members of their own co-op, which owns a flock of sheep, goats and alpacas whose wool, mohair and fiber they spin and blend into rugs, scarves, hats and other craft pieces. The group, which in- cludes several members of Concho Valley Electric Coopera- tive, meets at Ruth Jordan’s property on the South Concho River near San Angelo, where their flock lives on 11 acres. “Each spinner brings her special knowledge and talent to the group,” Jordan says. They share techniques, supplies and equipment, she explains. “Beginning spinners usually start with me as the teacher, with everyone pitching in for help and encouragement.” Even though the members chose the name Serendipity because they liked the sound of the word, its meaning holds relevance for original member Peggy Tharp. She had given up weaving because there was no place to buy materials in West Texas. Serendipity Spinners changed that. Being involved in the process from the beginning—start- ing with animals and through the finished product—offers creative satisfaction. “Spinning is fulfilling and elemental,” Tharp says. “This group got me to do something I’m not sure I could do otherwise.” The Serendipity Spinners continue a tradition of spin- ning that dates back more than 10 centuries, to a time when fibers were hand spun on spindles. The spinning wheel was invented in India and introduced to Europe in the Middle Ages. The wheel sped up the yarn-making process, which became mechanized during the 18th century. Crafters who crochet typically buy yarn from big-box stores and craft shops, which mostly supply acrylic wool. Yarn spun from natural fibers can be harder to come by and AbOve , FrOM tOP Alpacas owned by the Serendipity costs more. Purists buy raw fibers and spin them into their Spinners near San Angelo are one source of the group’s own yarn. The Serendipity Spinners take it a step further by wool; unspun wool; ruth Jordan spins wool into yarn. t e x A S C O OPPOwer.COM M Ay 2 0 2 1 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 9
LeF t Jordan feeds one of the
Shetland sheep the Serendipity
Spinners count on for the breed’s
desirable wool. beLOw the spin-
ners gather in Jordan’s home to
enjoy their centuries-old craft.
each spring, the group hires a local to shear
their sheep and goats. The spinners shear the alpacas and
do the skirting (the term for sorting and cleaning the wool)
of all the fleeces themselves. The wool is then carded—
combed—into roving so the fibers are lined up and ready
to be spun into yarn.
When group members gather, they enjoy a potluck of
food and fellowship. The room is filled with familiar smiles,
the scent of fresh-baked treats and the gentle whirring of
spinning wheels. The Serendipity Spinners are not in
business to make a profit; they’re in business to produce
affordable fiber for members to use.
The group sells dryer balls made from their castoff scrap
fiber at craft fairs and events at the Chicken Farm Art
Center in San Angelo. The dryer balls are the one product
the group sells collectively, and they use the proceeds to
help with the cost of feeding and shearing their flock and
raising their own sheep to produce their own wool. processing their wool.
The group spins the wool into yarn on varied styles of The Serendipity Spinners’ flock came about during a
spinning wheels: some Saxony, some Castle, some electric, spinning session when one of the ladies complained about
some antique heirlooms. the high cost of fiber. Jordan suggested the group invest in
“If only these wheels could tell us their stories,” says their own flock, so each member chipped in $200, and they
Jordan, who owns several. She purchased one from north- purchased four sheep.
ern Europe at a secondhand shop in Mason, concluding it They sought a variety of sheep breeds to produce a
probably came to Texas with the German pioneers who diversity of fibers. Their flock now includes Teeswater,
settled the Hill Country. Her Schacht Matchless wheel Wensleydale, California variegated mutant, Jacob, merino
came from an estate sale, and she learned that its former and Rambouillet. Each breed has unique qualities in its
owner, whose initials are painted on the wheel, traveled fiber and yarn.
from New York to Mexico to teach spinning there. Mohair, produced by Angora goats, is glossy and strong
Through her experience with different wheels, Jordan and dyes beautifully. Merino is soft. Jacob is strong and
has become the mechanic of the Serendipity Spinners, ideal for rugs and handbags. Teeswater is lustrous. CVM
troubleshooting occasional problems. offers larger fleece that’s easy to spin and is often blended
Though there are faster ways of acquiring a scarf nowa- with other fibers. Alpaca fleece comes in a variety of shades
days, the machine-made one you select from the shelf at and colors. Shetlands produce an especially desirable fiber
the department store won’t be imbued with the same love a for hand spinning in many colors.
handmade scarf offers. The Serendipity Spinners take the San Angelo, well-known as one of the largest sheep,
wool from a sheep they’ve cared for and work it through wool and mohair markets in the U.S., makes a fitting home
every step of the process to become a warm wrap. for the Serendipity Spinners. The Texas Sheep and Goat
1 0 T E X AS CO-OP POWER MAy 2021 t e x A S C O O P P Ow e r .C O MThe spinners’ livestock range on 11 acres along the south concho river. Raisers Association and the Mohair Council of America a weekend spinning retreat at the Jordan Ranch near are headquartered in the city. Menard. On that weekend they exchange handmade items. The Serendipity Spinners observe Roc Day, or St. “Fiber friends are the finest,” Jordan says, smiling as she Distaff’s Day, each January 7, the traditional date that the reflects upon her time with her fellow spinners. D cottage industry spinners in Europe resumed spinning the day after Epiphany. The San Angelo women celebrate with t e x A S C O OPPOwer.COM M Ay 2 0 2 1 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 1 1
LO MA x And A MerS On : LI br Ary O F CO n greS S. ter rI LL And LISt: t He dO LPH brISCO e Ce nt er FOr AMerICAn HIStOry, tHe unIverSIt y OF te x AS At AuStIn John Avery Lomax records richard Amerson at a home in Alabama. ruby terrill Lomax, at top, accom- panied Lomax on many trips through the South and kept meticulous notes of the field recordings. 1 2 T E X AS CO-OP POWER MAy 2021 t e x A S C O O P P Ow e r .C O M
HOW FIELD RECORDERS saved the soundtrack of the Lone Star State By Ge ne Fowle r
Listening
Texas
TO
T
he late Blanche Inez “Aunt Tootsie” Bell Simmons
of Pflugerville had never heard the fiddle music
of her great-uncle, Peter Tumlinson Bell of Car-
rizo Springs, until she was nearly a century old.
In 2008, Austinite Dan Foster, who researches old-time
fiddlers and fiddle music, brought Tootsie copies of a com-
pact disc, P.T. Bell—Master Texas Fiddler.
The fiddle tunes on the CD were captured on an ancient
Vibromaster recording machine by folklorist William A.
Owens in Carrizo Springs in 1941, when the musician Bell
was 74. The Vibromaster recorded directly to aluminum
discs. Verner Lee Bell said that among his first memories
was sitting on the floor while his grandfather fiddled into
the recorder as little curls of aluminum twisted away and
fell under the table as the recording was made. Owens
wrote that the audio on the aluminum discs was played Jack thorp was a pioneer
back with a cactus needle. in collecting and preserving
homespun ballads.
Owens was following a tradition begun by John Avery
tHO rP: COu rteSy PAL ACe O F tHe gOve rnO rS PHOtO ArCHIv eS | gu y LOgSd O n COLLe Ct IO n | nMHM/d CA
Lomax, among the best known of all field recorders. Originally
funded by Harvard University, Lomax traveled through Texas recorders preserved cowboy songs, Old World ballads,
with his son Alan and wife, Ruby Terrill Lomax, recording Appalachian reels, Black spirituals, corridos and canciones
authentic, undocumented folk songs until his death in 1948. that had been handed down through families from pioneer
One man Lomax recorded, whose name was only given days. If not for the work of the field recorders—those truly
as Blue, at the Smither Farm in Walker County concluded listening to Texas—these musical traditions might well
his singing by addressing President Franklin Delano Roo- have disappeared.
sevelt and urging him to come to Texas and do something Some of these recorded traditions became part of Ameri-
for the poor folks on tenant farms. Alan Lomax later wrote can culture. Cowboy Jack Thorp collected sagebrush songs
that his experience at the farm changed his life and the in Texas in 1889 and produced a booklet titled Songs of the
mission for his work. From that point forward, he believed Cowboys in 1908. Based on that publication and John
he needed to record the views of the unheard people in Lomax’s 1910 publication, Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier
rural America. Ballads, the oral history of Western music seeped into
A similar drive to preserve rural cultural traditions mainstream American culture. As a direct result, the 1920s
motivated other field recorders. Though some recordings saw the creation of an archetype, the singing cowboy, on
were made in urban settings, these traditions were largely radio and records. And with the advent of “talkies,” motion
rural, and they continue to influence Texas music and pictures with sound, in the 1930s, the crooning caballero
lifeways in the 21st century. was firmly established as an American icon.
Others who took on this mission include Américo Pare- William A. Owens spent much of the 1930s and early ’40s
des and Tary Owens (no relation to William Owens). Field trekking the state in search of songs. Born in Lamar County
t e x A S C O OPPOwer.COM M Ay 2 0 2 1 T E X AS C O - O P POW E R 1 3Américo Paredes studied the stories,
humor and border ballads—corridos—
of the rio grande valley for decades
after becoming the first Mexican
American to receive a doctorate in
english from the university of texas.
Corrido de Kiansis,
about the famed
trail drives from
South Texas. “Many
of the trail drivers
were Mexicans,” he
writes, “some taking
their own herds,
others working with
Anglo outfits.”
Other border
songs collected by
Paredes include the
stories of Texas
journalist Catarino
Garza, who led a
in 1905, he returned home to Pin Hook to record singers in revolt against
the early days of rural electrification. “A mystery, at times Mexican dictator
a superstition about electricity penetrated folk minds,” he Porfirio Díaz, and Goliad native Ignacio Zaragoza, who led
wrote in his 1983 book, Tell Me a Story, Sing Me a Song. a Mexican force that defeated the French at the Battle of
Owens’ quest took him from the streets of Dallas’ Deep Puebla on May 5, 1862—a victory celebrated today as Cinco
Ellum to the King Ranch to the woods of Texas’ deepest east. de Mayo. The song A. Zaragoza was sung at 1867 Cinco de
SLeev e: LIbr Ary O F CO ngre SS. PAr ede S: n e t tIe Le e ben SO n L At In AMe rICAn CO LLe CtI On , u nIv erSIt y OF te x AS LIbr ArIeS, tHe unIverSIt y OF te x AS At AuStIn
In East Texas he was often guided by Irvin “Cocky” Thompson Mayo festivities in San Ygnacio by a local guitarrero named
of Silsbee, who, Owens wrote, “knew the paved roads … the Onofre Cárdenas and remained in the borderlands’ oral
wagon roads, the trails that led to lonely cabins or became tradition until Paredes learned it from the Zapata County
lost in the rootings of hogs hunting for mast.” singer Mercurio Martinez in 1950.
In the unincorporated Houston County community Tary Owens became one of Paredes’ students at the
of Austonio, Lemuel Jeffus—who could reportedly “make University of Texas in the 1960s and earned a Lomax Foun-
people grin like possums with his crazy old songs”— dation grant to record such artists as country bluesmen
gathered locals and families from Bug Hill to record sacred Mance Lipscomb and Bill Neely as well as piano legends
harp singing for Owens. Marveling at the aluminum disc Robert Shaw and Roosevelt Williams, also known as Grey
on the folklorist’s machine, they testified quietly, “I ain’t Ghost. As Ruth K. Sullivan wrote in the Journal of Texas
never heered my own voice.” Music History, Owens documented a wide range of styles
in Texas and “helped provide … a much more complete
I
n Brownsville and Matamoros, Owens recorded a understanding of the unique and complex musical heri-
young Paredes and his then-wife, the future Queen tage of the Lone Star State.”
of the Bolero, Chelo Silva. One performance seems Some of Owens’ 1965 tapes were recently released on
especially emblematic of listening to Texas. “Chelo CD as Teodar Jackson With T. J. Jackson: African-American
sang a version of the traditional Spanish Cielito Lindo,” Owens Fiddling From Texas. Foster explains that this music is
wrote, “that progressed from the original, through a guapango “something rare and old as yet unheard in the familiar
[huapango], a Negro blues, and ended as a cowboy yodel. To sound of old-time fiddling today. Teodar’s recordings have
them, such a mixture seemed natural on the border.” much to teach us about the sound of African American
Though authorities did not allow Owens to take his music in its own right.”
Vibromaster into Mexico, a Matamoros cantina singer Thanks to Owens’ field recordings and the discovery of
taught Paredes the words and melody to another song, the Teodar Jackson by young audiences, the fiddler was slated to
story of Gregorio Cortez, a ranch hand who fled Texas after play the Newport Folk Festival in 1966, where an even greater
a tragic struggle with the sheriff of Karnes County. Paredes’ audience awaited his music—but he died before that hap-
dissertation on the story and its corrido, published as the pened. Listen to Jackson’s fiddle, and you’re truly listening
1958 book, With His Pistol in His Hand, has become a bed- to Texas. D
rock text in Mexican American studies.
Paredes rounded up a lifetime of border music in his 1976
w e b e x t r A experience
book, A Texas Mexican Cancionero. John Avery Lomax’s east texas
He included the oldest complete Tex-Mex corrido, El tour virtually.
1 4 T E X AS CO-OP POWER MAy 2021 t e x A S C O O P P Ow e r .C O MDoor &
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Safety Starts With You
At Nueces Electric Cooperative, we equipment like televisions, home If an extension cord gets notice-
believe that in a culture of safety, infor- entertainment systems, and com- ably warm when in use, it could be
mation is a powerful tool, and electric- puter components from power spikes. undersized for the intended use. If it
ity and safety should go hand in hand. Voltage spikes are measured in joules, shows any signs of frayed, cracked, or
With the same commitment that we and surge protectors are rated for the heat-damaged insulation, it should
ensure our employees are educated and number of joules they can effectively be replaced. If the grounding prong is
practicing safety at all times, we strive absorb. That means if your surge pro- missing, crimped, or loose, a grounded
to inform our members of all ages tector is rated at 1,000 joules, it should cord will not provide the protection
about electric safety in their homes, at be replaced when it hits or passes designed into its performance. And
work, at school, and at play. that limit. When the limit is reached, always make sure that extension cords
Education, awareness, and a basic protection stops, and you’re left with a used in outdoor or potentially damp
knowledge of electrical safety practices basic power strip. locations are rated for exterior use.
can help keep your family and home Some surge protectors include Taking a few extra moments to
safe from electrical hazards. It is the indicator lights that flicker to warn unplug, inspect, or check a few of
key to preventing unnecessary acci- you when they’ve stopped working these things can help you avoid the
dents and fires. as designed, but many do not. If your likelihood of electricity related fires,
May is National Electrical Safety electrical system takes a major hit, or if injuries, fatalities, and property loss.
Month. Here at NEC, we think it’s a you don’t remember when you bought We hope you’ll keep these electrical
great time to look around your home your surge protector, replacement may safety tips in mind so that you can note
and check for potential electrical safety be the best option. any potential hazards before damage
hazards. If you use extension cords regularly occurs.
Remember, every electrical device to connect devices and equipment to Electricity is a necessity for mod-
has a purpose and a service life-span. your wall outlets, you may live in an ern living, and NEC is committed to
While we may extend their opera- under-wired home. With a growing providing safe, reliable, and afford-
tions with maintenance and care, none number of electrical devices connect- able power to all of our members and
of them are designed to last forever. ing your family, to the electricity you communities. At NEC, you’re more
When electricity is involved, failures receive from NEC, having enough out- than a customer; you’re a member of
can present electrical hazards that lets in just the right spots can be chal- the cooperative and we’re committed
could be avoided with periodic inspec- lenging. Remember, extension cords to keeping you safe at home, on the
tions. are designed for temporary, occasional, phone, online and more.
Power strips with surge protec- or periodic use.
tors can help safeguard expensive
Energizing South Texas for the past 80 years. That’s the Cooperative difference.
18 Texas Co-op Power NUECES ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE www.nueceselectric.org
NEC Wires May 2021 copy.indd 18 4/7/2021 9:37:33 AMNEC Sponsors
Wings Over
South Texas
The 2021 Corpus Christi Buccaneer Days
brought the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and
Wings Over South Texas Airshow to
the Corpus Christi Bayfront on May 1st
and May 2nd, n2021. Although this year
IMAGE COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.COM
is not the norm, two great South Texas
Traditions are combined into one for an
unforgettable two weeks of events.
NEC is one of the many proud sponsors
of this years Wings Over South Texas
Airshow where the co-op was able to
show direct support and appreciation to
Call Before You Spring
the Naval Air Station families. A seating
section has been reserved by NEC for the
military families to sit back and enjoy
Into Action the airshow. Because of this sponsorship,
NEC is able to host 500 guests through-
out the weekend.
The weather is turning warmer, and summer is just around the corner! Before NEC is proud to support our local mili-
beginning any landscaping or outdoor projects that require digging, Nueces tary families and events. This sponsor-
Electric Cooperative members are reminded to call 811 to notify local utilities ship is just another important part of our
and have underground pipes and wires marked. commitment to supporting our commu-
nity.
The national 811 “Call Before You Dig” phone number links residents to a local
call center, which then dispatches local utility companies to mark underground IMAGE COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.COM
utility lines, pipes and cables with paint or flags, so you know what’s below.
Nueces Electric Cooperative members should call at least 72 hours before
beginning to dig.
By calling 811 before every project, residents can help save lives, avoid costly
penalties from hitting underground lines and protect infrastructure. It’s impor-
tant to know what’s below ground to prevent a potentially life-threatening
mistake.
Once lines are marked, take extra care when planting around power lines and
utility poles. Trees and shrubs that grow into power lines can not only cause
outages and delay the restoration of power, but they are also dangerous because
they can become energized when in contact with power lines. If plants must be
placed in the right-of-way, they should be a low-growing variety and should be
planted at the edge of the right-of-way and not directly under the wires.
Leave utility workers room to safely work around pad-mount transformers,
which look like big green boxes. Keep shrubs and structures 10 feet away from
pad-mount transformer doors and 4 feet away from the other sides. Make sure
plant roots don’t interfere with wires and buried cables.
For more information about safe digging and the “Call Before You Dig” pro-
cess, visit the 811 website at www.call811.com.
19 Texas Co-op Power NUECES ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE www.nueceselectric.org
NEC Wires May 2021 copy.indd 19 4/7/2021 9:37:36 AMBLACKCAT | IST
Don’t Go
Out On
A Limb
Safety for you and your
children is a top priority IMAGE COURTESY
at your electric co-op.
Kids don’t always know—
or remember—what can be
dangerous, so it’s up to all
of us to watch out for them.
Safety rules for power lines:
Don’t plant trees or install tall
playground equipment under or
near power lines.
Don’t build treehouses in trees
near electric lines. MARK YOUR
CALENDAR
Don’t allow children to climb
Cinco De Mayo
trees near power lines.
May 5
Teach your children to always Armed Forces Day
look up to check for power lines May 15
before climbing trees or any tall
objects. Memorial Day
May 31
Our offices will be closed in
Keep children away from ladders observance of the holiday.
and equipment that may be near
power lines.
And the No. 1 safety rule for
everyone to remember: Never
IMAGE COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.COM
touch a power line or anything
that’s touching a power line.
NEC encourages you to always
practice safety. KONDOROS EVA KATALIN | ISTOCK.COM
20 Texas Co-op Power NUECES ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE www.nueceselectric.org
NEC Wires May 2021 copy.indd 20 4/7/2021 9:37:39 AMBLACKCAT | ISTOCK.COM
IMAGE COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.COM
Remember Electrical Safety This May
May’s designation as National Electrical Safety Month makes • Ground-fault circuit interrupters protect against electric
it a good time to review electrical hazards and think about shock.
how to keep common household dangers at bay.
• Tamper-resistant receptacles have an internal shutter sys-
Each year, electrical malfunctions account for 35,000 home tem to prevent foreign objects from being inserted into an
fires causing more than 1,130 injuries, 500 deaths and $1.4 outlet.
billion in property damage, according to Electrical Safety
Foundation International. Because the average Ameri- About 3,300 home fires are started by extension cords
can home was built in 1977, many can’t keep up with the every year, so it’s important to follow these safety tips:
demands of today’s electrical appliances and devices.
• Don’t substitute extension cords for permanent wiring.
To help prevent adding to the sobering statistics about
electrical dangers, watch for the warning signs of an • Don’t run cords through walls, doorways, ceilings or floors.
overloaded electrical system, which include:
If a cord is covered, heat cannot escape, which is a fire haz-
• Frequent circuit breaker trips or blown fuses. ard.
• Lights dimming when other devices are turned on. • Don’t use an extension cord for more than one appliance.
• Buzzing sounds from switches or outlets. • Make sure the extension cord or temporary power strip
you use is rated for the products it powers and is marked for
• Discolored outlets. either indoor or outdoor use.
• Appliances that seem underpowered. • Don’t use a cord that has a lower rating than the appliance
or tool you are plugging in.
To maintain an electrically safe home, be sure that the
following safety devices are installed in your home • Never use a cord that feels hot or is damaged in any way.
according to updated codes:
• Never use three-prong plugs with outlets that only have
• Arc-fault circuit interrupters protect against electrical fires two slots.
caused by malfunctions.
• Ensure your extension cord has a polarized or three-prong
• Surge protective devices provide safeguards against surges plug.
that can damage or reduce the life spans of electrical systems.
www.nueceselectric.org NUECES ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Texas
Co-op Power 21
NEC Wires May 2021 copy.indd 21 4/7/2021 9:37:40 AMDID YOU KNOW?
Practice Garage May is National Electrical Safety Month.
Time to inspect your home for any lamps,
appliances, electronics, cords, plugs or out-
Electrical Safety
lets that need repair or replacement to pre-
vent hazards.
Summer is almost here and that Purchase special outdoor equip-
means spending more time outdoors. ment. Only use extension cords
Whether you’re working on a project
in your garage, basking in the sun, or
approved for outdoor use. These POWER TIP
cords are usually orange. Don’t con-
taking a swim in your backyard pool, nect multiple extension cords or use Avoid putting heat-producing electronics
remember these four important tips them as a permanent solution. near your home’s thermostat during the
to avoid electrical shock. cooling season. Heat from a lamp can raise
Weatherproof outdoor outlets. the temperature, causing the air condition-
Keep water away from electric- Install weatherproof boxes and cov- ing to turn on more often.
ity. If you have electrical cords in ers on all outdoor outlets to prevent
your garage, keep them high and dry. water contact. Be sure all outdoor
Avoid placing cords near outdoor outlets have ground fault circuit
water sources like sinks or pools or interrupters (GFCIs) installed and
anywhere rain could get on them. remember to test these monthly.
For added safety, store cords in plas-
tic containers to prevent them from Look around you. Be sure to look
getting wet or damaged, and always up and never use a ladder near power
examine cords before using. lines. Also, keep flammable items
in appropriate containers and far
away from electrical appliances, heat
sources, and windows.
The Lint Trap Isn’t The
AQUAARTS STUDIO | ISTOCK.COM
Only Fire Trap
If you scrape the lint out of your Once that happens the dryer can over-
clothes dryer’s lint trap after every load, heat; send dirty, moist air back into
you’re doing a lot to prevent the appli- your home; or even catch on fire. You
ance from catching on fire. But you might have to disconnect the exhaust
could do more. duct from the dryer and from the vent
to remove a blockage.
Here are safety tips for keeping your
dryer safe and energy efficient. What’s lurking behind your dryer?
Pull it out and take a look. Lint can
Are your clothes getting dry? Time
accumulate there and also underneath
the cycle. This is a sign that your lint
the dryer. Clean the floor behind the
screen or exhaust duct is probably
appliance and wipe down the back of
blocked.
the dryer. Call a service tech for this job
When is the last time you snaked if you can’t manage it on your own.
your dryer vent? You should do
What’s inside? If you throw gasoline-,
it yearly. It’s a pretty easy job, but
oil- or chemical-soiled clothes and tow-
KATARZYNA BIALASIEWICZ | ISTOCK.COM
if you’re not a do-it-yourselfer, any
els into the dryer, even after thoroughly
handyman or electrician can do it for
washing them, they can ignite. Dry
you. The duct is the coil that sends the
them outside on a clothesline instead—
hot air from the dryer to the outdoors.
after washing them several times. If
The vent is the opening where the
your dryer is the only option, use the
hot air leaves the house. Both can get
lowest setting and remove the items the
22 Texas Co-op Power clogged with lint.
NUECES ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE www.nueceselectric.org
minute the cycle is finished. IMAGE COURTES
NEC Wires May 2021 copy.indd 22 4/7/2021 9:37:41 AMTwo-Prong Outlets
Aren’t Always Safe
Any new appliances you purchased over the past decade or so probably
came with three-prong plugs. But if you live in an old house, the wall
outlets might only accept plugs with two prongs.
That might mean you have adapters all over your house. The adapters
have three holes to accept the plugs of newer appliances and two prongs
that fit into older wall outlets.
That may be convenient, but it’s not necessarily safe or a good long-term
solution. Instead, consider hiring a licensed electrician to replace your
older outlets with safer, three-prong versions.
When you buy the replacement receptacles, choose models that include
a ground-fault circuit interrupter. GFCIs serve as a sort of imitation
ground and can greatly reduce the chance of an electrical shock.
It’s a good idea to use GFCI receptacles wherever you replace two-prong
outlets in your house, but it’s especially important in the kitchen, bath-
room, laundry room and garage—where you use water and electricity in
the same room
IMAGE COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.COM
Protect Your Home Sweet Home
Your home is a place to feel safe and Home office
secure, but electrical hazards may be
Don’t cover fans or air vents on electron-
hiding inside. Do you know how to spot
ics. Keep the vents clean by dusting them
them? Follow these room-by-room tips
regularly. Check items periodically for
to prevent accidents and keep your home
overheating and unplug them if neces-
and loved ones safe.
sary. Don’t overload plugs, and never use
Bathrooms extension cords as a permanent solution.
Water and electricity don’t mix. Ground Kitchen
fault circuity interrupter (GFCI) outlets
Check appliances to make sure they’re
can protect you from electric shock. Test
in good working condition. Unplug
these outlets monthly and keep hair dry-
countertop appliances when not in use –
ers and other bathroom electronics away
this will also save you energy. Don’t keep
from water.
cords or combustibles near the stove or
Living room and bedrooms heat.
Loose-fitting plugs can overheat and Garage and outdoors
cause electrical fires. Check your appli-
KATARZYNA BIALASIEWICZ | ISTOCK.COM
Inspect your power tools for damaged
IMAGE COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.COM
IMAGE COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.COM
ances to ensure the plugs fit correctly in
cords. If you’re mixing outdoor work
each outlet. Never cover cords with rugs
with water, keep your cords high and dry.
or furniture, and keep cords untangled
Don’t place flammable objects near wires
and away from foot traffic.
or outlets, and never use a ladder near
power lines.
www.nueceselectric.org NUECES ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Texas
Co-op
Texas
Co-op23
Power Power 23
IMAGE COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.COM
NEC Wires May 2021 copy.indd 23 4/7/2021 9:37:43 AMBLACKCAT | ISTOCK.COM
Electrical Safety For Little Ones
We talk with children about the importance of wear- fly kites near power lines. Always choose a wide, open area
ing seatbelts, eating healthy foods, and looking both ways far away from roads and power lines. Tell a child if the
before crossing the street — but do they know how to stay wind blows a kite near a power line, the person holding the
safe around electricity? Read our reminders and discuss string needs to let go.
these with the children in your life.
Never touch power lines.
Metal objects should never go inside the toaster. Has a child asked you why a bird can land on a power
Remind children that metal is a conductor, which means line and not get hurt? You can tell them that birds on a
electrical current can pass through it. If someone sticks a wire are not touching the ground, so electricity can’t use
metal object — like a knife or fork — inside the toaster, them as a pathway. Instead, the current stays inside the
electricity can travel from the toaster’s coils through the wires, and the birds are safe. Emphasize that people should
metal object and into their body. Remind children to ask never touch electric wires.
for an adult’s help if something gets caught in the toaster.
Power down before unplugging.
Electricity and water don’t mix. Setting rules for plugging and unplugging electronics
Tell children they should never use electronics near is always a good idea. Teach older children how to safely
water — it’s dangerous and could cause an electric shock. unplug an electronic device: Always power down the item
Keep chargers, hairdryers and hair straighteners, kitchen first, then pull from the plug – never from the cord. Adults
appliances, and all electronics far away from water. Adults should check outlets for safety plug covers, as well as make
need to check GFCI outlets monthly to ensure they’re sure electronics plug into outlets tightly and correctly.
working accurately.
Fly kites far away from power lines.
Make sure children know it’s always best to fly kites with
an adult. Choose a sunny day and make sure no storms are
in sight. Lightning could strike the kite and travel to the
person carrying it. Let them know it’s important to never
24 Texas Co-op Power NUECES ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE www.nueceselectric.org
NEC Wires May 2021 copy.indd 24 4/7/2021 9:37:45 AMPayment Options:
Pay Online Find us on the web at: Main Office / Mailing Address:
www.nueceselectric.org www.nueceselectric.org 14353 Cooperative Ave
Access your account 24 hours a day from any Robstown, TX 78380 (Calallen)
computer to view usage, make payments or man- Call us at: M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
age your account. Just click on “Pay Your Bill”, on 361-387-2581 or 1-800-632-
the left side of our Homepage and it will take you 9288 Ben Bolt Service Center:
to the SmartHub account portal. Your Elected Board of Directors: 5646 S. Hwy 281 Alice, TX
Brian Menking: District 6, President M-F 8 - 12/ 12:30 - 4
Pay With Your Smart Device Bill Hartman, District 5
Download the SmartHub app to your iPhone or David Rosse, District 3, Secretary Treasurer Ricardo Service Center:
Andriod device. View usage, weather impacts, Johnny Alvarado, District 7 123 CR 1026, Ricardo, TX
make payments and manage your account any Gladys Lippincott, District 8 (Retail) M, W, F 8 - 12/ 12:30 - 4
time of the day. Donald Herrmann, District 4
Gregg Truesdale, District 2 Orange Grove Service Center:
Auto Draft: Rumaldo Z. Juarez, District 1 5302 W. FM 624
Sign up to have your bank account or credit card Temporarily closed
drafted for your monthly bill. You can sign-up via Local Pages Editor:
your SmartHub online account. Alexa Patek
communications@nueceselectric.org
Equal Payment Plan
Through this payment program, a member’s usage Use the NEC Outage Viewer to view outages 24-hours a day with any
is averaged for the year and the member makes device. The Outage Viewer is located on the homepage our website.
equal payments each month. See more informa-
tion and sign up online under the Member Ser-
vices ->Payment Options menu tab, or call the
office. NEC Power Providers
PLEASE NOTE: The (CRs) listed below have completed the process to qualify
Pay by Phone: and are currently serving NEC area members. This provider list is subject to
800-NEC-WATT (800-632-9288) change. For the most up-to-date list of providers, please monitor our website
nueceselectric.org or you can obtain a list from any NEC office.
Pay in Person:
Pay your bill at any one of our Customer Service AP GAS & ELECTRIC COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
centers located in Calallen, Ben Bolt, Ricardo or APOLLO POWER & LIGHT COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
Orange Grove. BLUESTAR ENERGY COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY
CHAMPION ENERGY SERVICES COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
Pay by Mail: CONSTELLATION ENERGY COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY
P.O. Box 659821, San Antonio, TX 78265 CORAL POWER SOLUTIONS LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
DYNEGY COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
Pay at the Payment Kiosk ENERGY TRANSFER LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
Quick, easy, and accessible 24 hours a day, the ENERTRADE ELECTRIC LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
Kiosk is located at the Calallen office. Payments HINO ELECTRIC COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
post immediately to your account. MPOWER /MP2 COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY
NEC CO-OP ENERGY RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & INDUST
Payment Services TENASKA LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
Pay using any Fidelity Express Pay Stations or for ENCOA (TERM) COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY
an additional $1.50 service charge. Search online SMARTCOM ENERGY SERVICES COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL ONLY
to find a payment station near you. STARTEX POWER LARGE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
SOURCE POWER & GAS COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
V247 RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL & INDUST
www.nueceselectric.org NUECES ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Texas
Co-op Power 25
NEC Wires May 2021 copy.indd 25 4/7/2021 9:37:46 AMYou can also read
